WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. -- The comparisons to Marques Colston have been inevitable since the moment the New Orleans Saints signed receiver Brandon Coleman as an undrafted rookie in 2014.
They're both big targets who shield defenders with their bodies and outmuscle them for the ball. They both came from humble beginnings (Colston a seventh-round pick out of Hofstra in 2006, Coleman undrafted from Rutgers last year).
And they're both soft-spoken men of few words -- though Colston is still one of a kind in that department.
"I thought I was a quiet guy until I met him," Coleman cracked. "But I've got a long way to go."
Coleman (6-foot-6, 225 pounds) said the same thing about the football comparisons, insisting that, "I would like to compare myself to him, but he has some big shoes. I've got to start building my own way first."
But those football comparisons will only continue if Coleman continues to impress as much as he has this summer.
The light bulb seems to be coming on for Coleman in Year 2 the same way it did for Colston a few months into his rookie year in 2006.
Coleman has looked great throughout organized team activities, minicamp and training camp, catching almost everything thrown his way while using that big frame to his advantage.
He looks fluid, confident, comfortable -- all a change from last summer, when he was still recovering from a lingering knee injury and looked a bit clunky while battling some dropped passes. He wound up spending most of the year on the practice squad and never played in a game.
"I really think Brandon's made a lot of strides from Year 1 to Year 2," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "Part of that is his health, he's healthy, his legs are stronger. He's extremely competitive, he works hard at it and you can see that carry over to the snaps he's getting. And he's also very smart like Marques was."
Coleman is in a crowded battle for the Saints' No. 3 and No. 4 receiver jobs. But if he continues to produce like he has so far, it's entirely realistic he could vault to the top of that pack and play a prominent role in New Orleans' offense.
Coleman's potential to be a red zone monster gives him an edge over fellow candidates such as Nick Toon, Josh Morgan, Joe Morgan and Seantavius Jones. Coleman also said he considers himself a very good blocker, which will be key to earning a roster spot.
When asked what he's doing better now, Coleman quickly shot back, "Not thinking as much."
"Everything's slowing down in my mind. So I just go out there and just play," said Coleman, who said he's been picking Colston's brain since he first arrived and that he's grateful for all the advice the veteran has given him.
Coleman's health is also a big bonus, though he said he didn't want to use that "as a crutch" last year. Coleman had a torn meniscus in his knee and a quad tendon repair before his final season at Rutgers. He played through it, but his numbers dropped (and possibly his draft stock, as well). He said the injury nagged him into the fall.
"I had a year to fully recover. And I think I feel fine now and it's starting to show," Coleman said.
Coleman has also had a full year to develop a rapport and rhythm with quarterback Drew Brees -- including a recent trip to San Diego to train with Brees, along with some of the other Saints receivers.
That trip included some creative bonding activities, like Coleman's first introduction to stand-up paddle boarding. But it also included valuable work on the field.
"It's priceless," Coleman said. "That's time you can't get back, those reps count. And that goes into him trusting me."
If Coleman keeps making plays like he has so far this summer, that trust won't be a problem.